Hello,
I am currently in Columbia, SC but am moving to Dallas, TX in the next month. I have a sweet OTTB who is retired due to an arthritic knee. He is great but like all TBs has a few quirks: can’t live by mares, started getting abscesses from vaccines 2 years ago, and eats chopped forage because he lost a couple teeth. He is currently stalled but seems to more and more want full turnout so I would not be opposed to that. Any suggestions of boarding facilities? also, any suggestions for shipping that distance? I would love to get him on a trailer with some other horses so he was less stressed. I am also keeping options open to leave him in Georgia if the vet feels the trip is too long. That would be so sad for us both though! Thanks
A lot will depend upon just where you end up. Columbia, SC is 144 square miles where as the urban area here is 1,407 square miles (the whole area is 9,286 square miles)
This is kind of a big place that is pretty varied. The east side is in the coastal geographic area while the west side is the beginning of the Great Plains.
What part of town will you be working in?
As far as shipping is concerned, I would recommend Equine Express based in Pilot Point Texas. They are great!
The greater Dallas area is enormous. Let us know the town/city/area where you will actually be living to make a recommendation in that area.
The semi-rural and rural areas around Dallas have many, many horses of all breeds and disciplines. It’s quite possible you’ll find a number of options. It will be a matter of sorting through them for the ones that truly suit your expectations.
The tricky part is that many good horse facilities in the area aren’t advertised, or not much, because they have all the business they want most of the time. Especially for a retirement situation, put the word out and ask everyone you encounter in the horse world. Make sure they have your contact information, and don’t be surprised if eventually you get a call from a complete stranger who says "I heard you were looking for a place to keep your horse … " and offers, or knows of, a truly quality situation. That area’s horse-grapevine is thriving. 
Statistically, DFW and the surrounding rural area is the most densely horse-populated area in the U.S. You’ll find something. :yes:
I will be working at a hospital downtown. I have actually spent most of my life in Atlanta so driving 45-50mins was my norm and would be acceptable. Is there a tack store that would know farms or a good vet I could call? I’m excited to be in horse country!!
Best tack store to call is Quail Hollow in Flower Mound at 817 430-8250.
I’m in the Dallas area. Where are you planning to live? Or is that up in the air depending on where you settle your horse?
Uptown is where I’ll be living. Thanks
I also work downtown and one of my former coworkers had her horses at Park Lane Equestrian. It’s very close to downtown although it doesn’t look like a low key retirement facility. It might work as a place to move your horse first while you get yourself settled.
Give you would be in Uptown, check to see if the city has ever gotten the Texas Horse Park off the ground… it is to be east of downtown… I know they have committed something like $15M to the project
http://www.trinityrivercorridor.com/recreation/texas-horse-park.html
If you are on FB, you might want to check with Remember Me Rescue (Donna Keen) and Laura Holmes of CANTER Texas (& an admin of the FB page OTTB Connect). Neither are in the downtown Dallas area, but since both are active in rehoming OTTBs might be able to provide a good starting point.
There is a huge controversy with the Texas Horse Park. I hear the facility is gorgeous but I’m not hearing good things about the manager. There’s articles written about it.
Park Lane is a no. Especially if you want him to have turnout.
I used to board at a place in South Dallas that was on 110 acres that could set you up with good retirement board. There are drawbacks to it such as it being on clay but it’s a good little spot. There are lots of smaller farm options for him that could be workable. PM me if you want.
[QUOTE=JBD;7879514]
I also work downtown and one of my former coworkers had her horses at Park Lane Equestrian. It’s very close to downtown although it doesn’t look like a low key retirement facility. It might work as a place to move your horse first while you get yourself settled.[/QUOTE]
There is no way in HELL I would board my horse at Park Lane. No turn out for one, and the barn is very dusty. Think of a jail for horses.
I don’t know about boarding at the horse park (wasn’t aware that there was boarding available there). There aren’t any boarding facilities near downtown Dallas that I would recommend. Think urban sprawl. Eventually I moved out to Denton County so that I would be in close proximity to my horses and trainer.
[QUOTE=HRF Second Chance;7885280]
There is a huge controversy with the Texas Horse Park. I hear the facility is gorgeous but I’m not hearing good things about the manager. There’s articles written about it.
Park Lane is a no. Especially if you want him to have turnout.
I used to board at a place in South Dallas that was on 110 acres that could set you up with good retirement board. There are drawbacks to it such as it being on clay but it’s a good little spot. There are lots of smaller farm options for him that could be workable. PM me if you want.[/QUOTE]
I’ve been keeping up with the Horse Park through Facebook. I was under the impression it would host shows, have boarding, maybe a good place to haul in for trail riding. But it looks like they have it set up as a rental stable and non-horse event venue.
I’m glad people had info on Park Lane. It looked good in pictures and my coworker loved it but I’ve never seen the place.
One of our local horse show circuits went there to discuss the possibility of having a show there and he was said without a doubt and an emphatic ‘hell no.’ It originally was supposed to be this GREAT facility and now has been downgraded to whatever in the hell they are calling it now. Either way I know a few people who have worked for the ‘manager’ and the stories they’ve told both the horse community and the press are enough to keep me away.
As for Park Lane, I don’t know a single horse that’s come out of there without some SERIOUS health issues. A lady I knew equated it to ‘having a family member in a home.’ Said she went there every day, sometimes with a Spanish speaking maid to communicate with the grooms, just to keep on top of the care.
[QUOTE=HRF Second Chance;7886631]
One of our local horse show circuits went there to discuss the possibility of having a show there and he was said without a doubt and an emphatic ‘hell no.’ It originally was supposed to be this GREAT facility and now has been downgraded to whatever in the hell they are calling it now. [/QUOTE]
I used to live in the general area of where they are building the horse park. Here’s a recent article on what a sad cluster-f it’s become:
One of my very good friends was one of the people they talked to about this guy!
Thanks guys! I appreciate the input! Keep it coming! I think I’ve kinda been there, done that with show facilities and realized my old guy is just too OCD to keep around dramatic/intense farms. I really just want a chill place with grass turnout where he can enjoy life! I’ve shown him for years, he has earned his relaxation! I would love to have the opportunity to take lessons, but that is really second to Bert being fat and happy!!
Anyone have experience with hoofbeats at waterstone in McKinney or starfire equestrian in Celina? I looked at star T ranch but it sounds like it was on dirt and not grass. Thanks
I moved from Columbia, SC to Dallas about 9 years ago! Feel free to PM me for suggestions and details.
